A Night of Chickee Huts

So Mike and Loni invited us over for adult beverages in the Molokai Room, the authentic tiki bar Mike has actually built attached to his house. It's really something to see -- bars stools inside and out, tvs playing, and tons of memorabilia.  Wifey is amazed each time she sees it.

There's also a chickee hut -- palm fronds as a roof. Mike made rum drinks, and even Wifey drank -- some rose sparkling wine I brought for her and Loni.

Donna and Jack were also invited -- husband and wife defense lawyers -- I went to law school with Donna's brother Scott who died tragically young from cancer. I always think of Donna as the little sister we were warned away from at law school parties -- she's now a 54 year old empty nest mother -- her boys are up at UF.

We had a good time watching the SEC game -- especially when the cameras would show the Southern Belles mouthing the F word when their teams would falter.

In an unusual twist, I was the designated driver, and navigated Mike's enormous Ford Expedition south to Golden Rule.

Golden Rule is an old school seafood market and restaurant, and this year they opened an outdoor space under an enormous chickee hut. We joked with Mike that he had chickee envy...

It was a lovely night -- 6 empty nesters with many connections laughing heartily. A woman who used to run the copy room at Palmetto High was at another table, and through the game of telephone somehow she was described as a craven hussy who slept with the toner delivery man. You had to be there , but it was a very funny time.

I drove the huge vehicle home -- it was a nice change to be the most sober guy at the party for a change -- I'll gladly volunteer to repeat that if Wifey drinks wine -- but I don't see that becoming a new thing...